To many, Japan may seem like one big sophisticated high-tech metropolis of the future when images of flashy Tokyo fly across your screens. But its LGBT rights movement remains a work in progress.

After a few years away from the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), Japan will be attending the organization’s annual meeting this year in Los Angeles and looking into attracting more LGBT tourists. Yuki Tanaka, the executive director of the Japan National Tourism Organization, said that the initiative is still in its fledgling stages, but it’s making progress. “Tokyo and Kyoto are the most popular,” she said, “people like the modern design of Japan, the high-end hotels, and the nightlife.”

Similar to the United States, it’s the major cities — such as Tokyo and Kyoto — where LGBT rights are making their first advances. In Japan, couples renting houses or apartments need some sort of authorization, and a marriage certificate is usually used. But since gay couples can’t get married in Japan, it was difficult for them to rent property when the owner could deny them.